Back to Basics: Healthy Skin is Happy Skin

I talked about how making peace with your skin is important, and it is, but I did omit all the things I do to make my skin a little better before I start making peace with it. Sorry for the grand deception.

The first thing that I subscribe to is that what goes into your body is what comes out. Some things that are really fantastic for your skin are fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C enhances collagen production (says my dermatologist friend, Amy), which helps your skin stay young. Water is also immensely important. Scientists are conflicted about how much is enough (apparently eight glasses is maybe not an accurate amount). I try to aim for two liters a day. Fish oil is also something that I’m a proponent of. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have any real evidence that it works besides my own anecdotal work. Cait the scientist knows that isn’t real evidence, but it’s enough for me! I take one fish oil tablet every day, because drinking the liquid is icky, and I know have glossy hair and glowy skin. Well, glossy-er and glowy-er.

Along with all that goes all of the things that you shouldn’t apply to your body. The corollary with this is that you have to practice moderation. A diet high in fat is just plain bad for you and can cause breakouts and other nastiness, buts a diet too low in fat isn’t better. I’m big into clean living, where you reduce refined foods as much as you can. That being said, today I had cookies for breakfast. Once again, moderation.

As for what goes on your face, that’s important too. You want to avoid (usually) skin products that aren’t for your skin type, because they tend to just make things worse. Not sure what skin type you are? Wash your face with a baby shampoo, dry it off, and wait. Does your skin feel tight? Dry! How about shiny? Oily! A little of both? Combination! Easy peasy. As well, check your cosmetic labels for the term comedogenic, as well as for products that don’t contain parabens. Noncomedogenic products won’t break you out, and parabens have been shown to do bad things to you over time. Lastly, make sure you take all of that makeup off at the end of the day. That part is important.

Healthy skin is happy skin! :)